Clothing System for Leg Amputee

ABSTRACT

A clothing system has a first leg portion extending from a first waist area of the clothing system and a second leg portion extending from a second waist area of the clothing system. The second leg portion has a end that is distal from the second waist area and a knee area centrally located between the end and the second waist area. The first leg portion meets the second leg portion at a crotch area of the clothing system. A slit is formed in the second leg portion, providing an opening from the end to a location at a point above the knee area and below the crotch area. The slit provides access to a prosthetic leg. In some embodiments, the slit is selectively closed by a fastener such as a zipper.

FIELD

This invention relates to the field of clothing and more particularly to a clothing system designed for those that have lost a leg.

BACKGROUND

Life is often more difficult for those who have lost a leg. Simple tasks that others do everyday are much more difficult for people that lose a leg. With random acts of terror and war, the number of people having lost a leg will increase. Fortunately for some, modern medicine and new materials are improving prosthetics and improving the mobility of people who have lost a leg.

One task that those with two legs take for granted is getting dressed. A simple task of putting one leg into a pair of pants, then the other leg is learned in childhood and performed by many on a daily basis. The same task is not so easy for a person with a prosthetic leg, as it is difficult to pull a pant leg over the prosthetic leg.

What is needed is a clothing system that will provide access to a prosthetic without requiring removal of one's pants.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a clothing system is disclosed including a first leg portion extending from a first waist area of the clothing system and a second leg portion extending from a second waist area of the clothing system. The second leg portion has a end that is distal from the second waist area and a knee area centrally located between the end and the second waist area. The first leg portion meets the second leg portion at a crotch area of the clothing system. A slit is formed in the second leg portion, providing an opening from the end to a location at a point above the knee area and below the crotch area. The slit provides access to a prosthetic leg.

In another embodiment, a clothing system is disclosed including a first leg portion extending from a first waist area of the clothing system and a second leg portion extending from a second waist area of the clothing system. The second leg portion has a end that is distal from the second waist area and a knee area centrally located between the end and the second waist area. The first leg portion meets the second leg portion at a crotch area of the clothing system. A slit is formed in the second leg portion. The slit provides an opening from the end to a location to a point above the knee area and below the crotch area, the slit for providing access to a prosthetic leg. A zipper that has a first set of teeth interfaced to a first edge of the slit, a second set of teeth interfaced to an opposing second edge of the slit, and a zipper pull opens and closes the slit. The zipper pull for engages and disengages the first set of teeth with the second set of teeth thereby closing and opening the slit.

In another embodiment, a method of donning a clothing system by a person having a prosthetic leg that is attached between the person's hip and the person's knee is disclosed including donning a clothing system having a slit before attaching the prosthetic leg to the person. The slit is on a first leg portion of the clothing system, the leg portion that corresponds to the prosthetic leg. The slit provides an opening from an end of the first leg portion to a point between a knee area of the first leg portion and a hip area of the first leg portion. Next, the prosthetic leg is attached, then the slit is closed using a device for closing (e.g., a zipper).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a clothing system for a person with a leg prosthesis.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the clothing system for a person with a leg prosthesis.

FIG. 3 illustrates a magnified plan view of a zipper of the clothing system for a person with a leg prosthesis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

In this document, the clothing system refers, in general, to pants of any nature, including, but not limited to, jeans, dress slacks, caprice slacks, pajama bottoms, overalls, etc. Any article of clothing that covers one's legs, having leg portions that extend from the crotch area to at least the knee area of the wearer is anticipated.

Referring to FIG. 1, a plan view of a clothing system 10 for a person with a leg prosthesis 30 is shown. Prior clothing systems, or pants, have continuous leg portions 12/14 running from the waist 16 to the ends 15 of the leg portions 12/14. Some prior clothing systems have short ankle-length zippers (not shown) that are useful for donning boots. In such, the ankle-length zippers (on both legs) are unzipped after the pants are donned, then the boots are donned, then the ankle-length zippers are zipped to cover the top portion of the boots.

Donning and wearing pants of the prior art is difficult for a person who has a leg prosthesis, especially for those with a leg prosthesis that attached in the upper leg area. In such, it is difficult to don a pair of pants of the prior art after the leg prosthesis is attached and it is almost impossible to attach a leg prosthesis after donning a pair of pants of the prior art, even pants of the prior art having ankle-length zippers.

The clothing system 10 for a person with a leg prosthesis 30 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) provides access to the leg prosthesis 30 through a slit 8 in the pant leg 12/14 that covers the leg prosthesis 30. Through the slit 8, the user has access to don or remove the leg prosthesis 30 or to adjust the leg prosthesis 30 without needing to remove the pants 10. The slit 8 extends from the ends of one of the pant legs 12/14 past a knee area 11 of the pants 10 and ends at a point between the knee area 11 of the pants and the crotch 9 of the pants 10. In a preferred embodiment, an attachment mechanism shown as a zipper 20/22/24 opens and closes the slit 8, opening the slit 8 for accessing, donning, and/or removing the leg prosthesis 30 and closing the slit 8 for comfort, warmth, and aesthetic reasons when access is no longer needed.

Any attachment mechanism is anticipated, including, but not limited to, a zipper 20/22/24, snaps, buttons/button holes, hooks, hook and loop material, etc. A zipper 20/22/24 is the preferred attachment mechanism, as a zipper 20/22/24 is easy and quick to open and close. In addition, a zipper is easier to conceal for aesthetic reasons.

Although the slit 8 and zipper 20/22/24 are shown on the inseam of one leg portion 12 of the clothing system 10, there is no restriction as to the location or which leg portion 12/14. It is fully anticipated that the slit 8 and zipper 20/22/24 be duplicated on both leg portions 12/14 in either symmetrical or asymmetrical positions as desired.

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the clothing system 10 for a person 2 with a leg prosthesis 30 is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, the leg prosthesis 30 is removably attached to an upper leg portion 3 of the wearer 2. Without the slit 8, access to the prosthesis 30 is difficult, typically requiring removal of clothing of the prior art. In FIG. 2, there is a zipper 20/22/24 that has been zipped, engaging one set of teeth 20 of the zipper 20/22/24 with a corresponding set of teeth 22 of the zipper 20/22/24, thereby closing the slit 8. As known in the art of zippers, the zipper pull 24 moved in one direction (e.g., downward towards the ends 13/15 of the leg portions 12/14) engages the sets of teeth 20/22 and moved in an opposing direction (e.g., upward) disengages the sets of teeth 20/22. Also known in the art of zippers are zippers that don't have teeth as used, for example, in the food storage industry at the top of plastic food storage bags. Any type of zipper or attachment mechanism is anticipated for temporarily closing the slit 8 of the clothing system 10.

The slit 8 of the clothing system 10 provides an opening from the ends 13/15 of the leg portions 12/14 to a location above the knee area 11, providing access to the prosthesis 30 for adjusting, donning, or removing the prosthesis 30. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slit 8 traverses one leg portion 12 from an end location 13 to a location above the knee area 11 of the leg portion 12 of the clothing system 10, but it is fully anticipated that the slit 8 extend to any location between the knee area 11 and the crotch area 9.

Referring to FIG. 3, a magnified plan view of an end of a zipper 20/22/24 of the clothing system 10 for a person with a leg prosthesis 30 is shown. In this view, the zipper pull 24 has been moved downward to almost the end 13 of the leg portion 12, engaging the teeth 20/22 of the zipper 20/22/24, thereby closing the slit 8.

Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.

It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A clothing system comprising: a first leg portion extending from a first waist area of the clothing system; a second leg portion extending from a second waist area of the clothing system, the second leg portion having a end that is distal from the second waist area, the second leg portion having a knee area centrally located between the end and the second waist area, the first leg portion meeting the second leg portion at a crotch area of the clothing system; and a slit in the second leg portion, the slit providing an opening from the end to a location at a point above the knee area and below the crotch area, the slit for providing access to a prosthetic leg.
 2. The clothing system of claim 1, further comprising a fastener, the fastener adapted to open and close the slit.
 3. The clothing system of claim 2, wherein the fastener is a zipper having one set of teeth affixed to a first edge of the slit, a second set of teeth affixed to a second edge of the slit, and a zipper pull, the zipper pull engaging the first set of teeth into the second set of teeth when moved in a first direction towards the end and the zipper pull disengaging the first set of teeth from the second set of teeth when moved in an opposite direction away from the end.
 4. The clothing system of claim 1, wherein the first leg portion has a first end that is distal from the first waist area, the first leg portion has a first knee area centrally located between the first end and the first waist area, and the first leg portion has a second slit providing an opening from the first end to a location at a point above the first knee area and below the crotch area, the second slit for providing access to a second prosthetic leg.
 5. The clothing system of claim 4, further comprising a second fastener, the second fastener adapted to open and close the second slit.
 6. The clothing system of claim 5, wherein the second fastener is a second zipper having a third set of teeth affixed to a first edge of the second slit, a fourth set of teeth affixed to a second edge of the second slit, and a second zipper pull, the second zipper pull engaging the third set of teeth into the fourth set of teeth when moved in a first direction towards the first end and the second zipper pull disengaging the second set of teeth from the fourth set of teeth when moved in an opposite direction away from the first end.
 7. A clothing system comprising: a first leg portion extending from a first waist area of the clothing system; a second leg portion extending from a second waist area of the clothing system, the second leg portion having a end that is distal from the second waist area, the second leg portion having a knee area centrally located between the end and the second waist area, the first leg portion meeting the second leg portion at a crotch area of the clothing system; a slit in the second leg portion, the slit providing an opening from the end to a location to a point above the knee area and below the crotch area, the slit for providing access to a prosthetic leg; and a zipper having a first set of teeth interfaced to a first edge of the slit, a second set of teeth interfaced to an opposing second edge of the slit, and a zipper pull, the zipper pull for engaging and disengaging the first set of teeth with the second set of teeth thereby closing and opening the slit.
 8. The clothing system of claim 7, wherein the first leg portion has a first end that is distal from the first waist area, the first leg portion has a first knee area centrally located between the first end and the first waist area, and the first leg portion has a second slit providing an opening from the first end to a location at a point above the first knee area and below the crotch area, the second slit for providing access to a second prosthetic leg.
 9. The clothing system of claim 8, further comprising a second fastener, the second fastener adapted to open and close the second slit.
 10. The clothing system of claim 5, wherein the second fastener is a second zipper having a third set of teeth affixed to a first edge of the second slit, a fourth set of teeth affixed to a second edge of the second slit, and a second zipper pull, the second zipper pull engaging the third set of teeth into the fourth set of teeth when moved in a first direction towards the first end and the second zipper pull disengaging the second set of teeth from the fourth set of teeth when moved in an opposite direction away from the first end.
 11. A method of donning a clothing system by a person having a prosthetic leg that is attached between the person's hip and the person's knee, the method comprising: before attaching the prosthetic leg to the person, donning a clothing system having a slit, the slit on a first leg portion of the clothing system that corresponds to the prosthetic leg, the slit providing an opening from an end of the first leg portion to a point between a knee area of the first leg portion and a hip area of the first leg portion; attaching the prosthetic leg; and closing the slit using means for closing.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the means for closing is a zipper.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the zipper has a first set of teeth interfaced to a first edge of the slit, a second set of teeth interfaced to a second edge of the slit, and a zipper pull; the step of closing comprising moving zipper pull in one direction, thereby engaging the first set of teeth with the second set of teeth, thereby closing the slit.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of removing the prosthetic leg comprising moving zipper pull in a second direction opposite of the first direction, thereby disengaging the first set of teeth from the second set of teeth, thereby opening the slit for access to the prosthetic leg; and removing the prosthetic leg. 